Page 18 of Broken

I scramble around the perimeter of the bathroom, smiling when I see the AC unit stuck in the window. For as much money was spent on the main area in the bar, very few dollars were afforded to the washrooms. It’s just my luck, however, because that’s all the space I need to get this poor kid to safety. I send a quick text to Amand, glad that he put his number in my phone earlier. Working quickly and as quietly as I can, I wedge the window upwards to slide the AC unit forward.

Fuck, this thing is a heavy bitch.

The Omega stands there, watching me manhandle a piece of equipment until I have it on the floor. “Alright, let’s get you outside. Get to the parking lot and my… mates will get you.”

“Your mates? What are you-”

“Later. Later. That witch will go get her companion and we’ll have a much different conversation if he comes in here.” I nearly slip up and say Vince but that will give the Omega the wrong idea.

The Omega stops asking questions as I bend down and lace my fingers together to give him a small boost. The window isn’t all that high but the Omega can’t be more than 5’2” or 5”3”. He braces himself on my shoulder before launching himself onto the windowsill. He’s halfway out the window before he speaks again. “You’re going to come get me, right? You won’t just leave me? My Alpha-”

“I’ll be right out there. Go!” I whisper, glad when the Omega disappears out of sight. Hurriedly, I wash my hands to at least pretend I used the bathroom and exit, the witch narrowing her gaze at the door. They’ll know what happened the moment someone else goes in there and sees the AC unit sitting on the floor but we’ll be gone by then.

We have to be on the same fucking wavelength as I speed to the entrance, throwing a brief thanks to our waitress before fleeing to the parking lot. My car is already running, the Omega wildly looking around until his eyes fall on me. I grab him and drag him to the rear passenger side of my beat up truck. “Come on. They’ll figure it out soon enough and I want to be back in the city before they can follow.”

Amand reaches over the back seat and pushes the door open from the inside, the Omega freezing once again. “The… I…”

“They’re my mates. They’re harmless. Mostly.” I shove the Omega inside and climb in after them, Rowan reversing the car so fast that I nearly ram my head into the front seat. “Hey, it’ll be okay now. We’ve got you.” That had to be the luckiest break I’ve had in my entire career but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I lean back against the cushions, breathing out a sigh of relief before remembering that we just rescued an Omega from a very dire situation. No one speaks as I turn to look at the boy, finally cataloging his features. He can’t be older than 20 or 21 but the ring on his finger tells me that someone has definitely been looking for him.

“Thank you,” he whispers, a tear running down his cheek. “I didn’t think I was going to get out of there but that man told me… I don’t remember what he told me. He was nice, though, until he brought me here.”

Rowan frowns, glaring at us through the rearview mirror. He’s taking no care to soften the ride as he speeds down the dirt road but it’s for the best. “That man brought you to the bar?”

“Yes and then he said he had someone for me to meet. I wasn’t going to go but then it felt like I had to. Like an Alpha’s command but stronger. He... his face was weird and I only know that he has brown hair.” The Omega’s face scrunches up as he stuffs himself into the corner of my truck. “He told me that Briar—that’s the witch—was going to take good care of me. I wanted to leave,” A hiccup cuts through his words as tears continue to pour down his cheeks. He wraps his arms around his chest as he bows his head. “I couldn’t get up. I just… you saved me.”

I throw him a small smile, glad that I was able to. He didn’t experience the same level of terror that Gloria did but I can’t imagine how horrible this situation is for him. “Do you want us to call someone?”

“My Alpha. I was supposed to meet him that day. We’re getting married soon. I… he’s going to be so angry.”

My brows furrow. I’m not calling someone who’s going to be angry at this poor kid for being kidnapped.

“Not at me! I promise. He’s a good Alpha. He takes care of me.” The kid takes a few minutes before he accepts my phone and then dials a number. His face scrunches up as he places the phone against his ear, relief flooding his features when a voice filters through the phone.

“Did you find him?”

“Alpha?”

“Cole? Babe, where are you?”

“Safe. I think. We’re going…”

I rattle off the address to my office as it’s the one place safe from Vince’s prying eyes. He’s never once stepped into my sacred space and I don’t expect him to now.

Cole whispers for several minutes into the phone, growing more and more relaxed as he hears his Alpha’s voice. I used to think that kind of connection was stupid but seeing it play out in person makes me crave more than what I’ve had. I’m not sure the two Basilisks in the front will ever be able to give me that, however, because every moment with them is a touch closer to death.

The Omega hands me back the phone, a small smile playing on his lips beneath the tears. I stare down at the number just dialed, realizing that all of this shit is connected. “Wait, you called your Alpha?” Cole nods. The number is the same one that belongs to my mysterious customer. Which means that this is a lot less of a coincidence and that there’s more to Vince’s involvement, the disappearances, and Cole’s Alpha.

I guess we’ll find out when he steps into my office, won’t we?

***

Cole jumps into his Alpha’s arms the moment the beast steps into my office. I’m currently pressed against the counter in my small kitchen, Rowan against my side with an arm wrapped around my shoulder. Amand is perched on my other side, his arms folded across his chest as we watch the small reunion. Their inability to leave my side is going to be a problem but I’m enjoying the warmth from their beasts and the way their magic caresses my body.

The Alpha moves farther inside, letting the door shut behind him. He doesn’t release his Omega but does set him on his feet, content to keep the kid wrapped up against his body. “Thank you for bringing him back to me.”

A man of that size, I couldn’t imagine him letting his Omega get out of his sight. “Of course. I’m happy to help.”

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